Multiple nozzle cleaning tool



Jan. s, 1961 2,966,693

E. ANDERSON MULTIPLE NOZZLE CLEANING 'I'OOL Filed May 4, 1955 HIS ATTORNEY Unite MULTIPLE NOZZLE CLEANING TOOL Filed May 4, 1955, Ser. No. 505,949

Claims. (Cl. 15-373) My invention relates to vacuum cleaner suction tools and more particularly to dual purpose tools.

In accordance with my invention I provide a tool having two different types of cleaning nozzles, one of which is movably disposed within the other. to the rotation of the nozzle about a suction connector member are provided for either retracting the inner nozzle so that its cleaning surface is out of operative position, -or projecting it part way from the outer nozzle so that 'the cleaning surface of the inner nozzle is in operative position.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will tates Patent C Means responsive be apparent from the following description, taken in yconnection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and of which;`

Fig. l is a rear view of a cleaning tool in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the tool shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 5, with a fragmentary portion showing teeth 126 superposed thereon, and also generally on the line 3--3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

In the embodiment illustrated the outer nozzle structure 100 constitutes a rug nozzle, while the inner structure 102 constitutes a floor brush nozzle. As appears more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, the nozzle structure 100 has integral therewith a cylindrical portion 104 in which is rotatably mounted an elbow 14 constituting ga suction connection member. The lower edge 0f the structure 100 terminates in a lip 106 which bounds the lower opening and forms the operating surface of the rug nozzle.

Disposed within the outer nozzle structure 100 is a combined throat and cam member 108. This member includes parallel vertically extending walls 110 defining between them a throat, and which are joined together adjacent their ends by upper horizontal walls 112, but in the more central part of the member 108, the vertical walls 110 are connected to outwardly extending anges 114. Extending upwardly from the forward flange 114 is a pair of projections 116, formed with elongated slots 118 through which extend pins 120 which are iixed in the outer nozzle structure 100.

Structure 102 has portions 119 which extend between vertical walls 110 and underneath upper walls 112 of member 108. Leaf springs 121 are secured to portions 119 and bear against pins 120, thus serving to urge structure 102 downwardly.

The elongated side portions of inner brush structure 102 are disposed in the spaces between the inside of the vwalls of outer structure 100 and vertical walls 110, while the end portions of structure 102 extend around the ends fiice vertical walls 110. These slots are formed with hori-` zontal portions 123 and 125 at their lower and upper ends, respectively. As will be seen more particularly in Fig. 3, the length of the combined throat and cam member 108 is somewhat less than the inner length of the outer nozzle structure 100. A pair of teeth 126 extends upwardly from the central portion of the rear llange 114, and the inner end of elbow 14 carries a cooperating tooth. 128.

With the parts in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5 it will be seen that the inner structure 102 is in retracted position, that is with the lower ends of the bristles 22 disposed above the lips 106 and consequently the tool is in condition for cleanlng a rug. The structure 102 is retained in this position by virtue of the fact that the pins 122 are disposed in the upper horizontal ends 125 of the inclined slots 124, and hence the downward pressure exerted by springs 121 has no tendency to move member 108 to the right, which movement would be necessary for structure 102 to move downwardly.

If it is desired to convert the tool to a oor brush, the elbow 14 may be swiveled 360 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3. When the elbow has been so swiveled through a little less than 180, the tooth 128 will engage one of the teeth 126 and will slide the throat and cam member 108 to the right, to the position shown in Fig. 1. This movement of the member 108 causes the pins 122 to be moved downwardly by the inclined slots 124, thus moving the inner brush structure 102 downwardly to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

While in the above description it has been stated that elbow 14 is rotated with respect to the nozzle, obviously l the same result would be obtained if the nozzle were pivoted relative to the elbow, and the latter would ordinarily be the more convenient thing to do. It will be noted that the elbow may be freely rotated with respect to the nozzle in either direction from the position shown in Fig. 1 through almost 180 without the tooth 128 engaging either of the teeth 126. Thus, the elbow may be swiveled during the ordinary use of the tool as either a rug nozzle or a iloor brush for lowering the suction conduit connected thereto in order to get the nozzle under low furniture, without shifting the parts.

When it is desired to change from a oor brush to a rug nozzle, the elbow 14 may be rotated through 360 in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 1, the tooth 128 engaging one of the teeth 126 to move the cam member 108 to the left, the inclined slots 124 lifting the pins 122 and hence brush structure 102.

While I have shown only one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this has been done for the purpose of illustration only, and that my invention is not to be limited thereby but is to be determined from the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a dual purpose suction cleaning tool, a suction conduit connection member, a suction conduit elbow rotatably mounted in said member about a normally horizontal axis and having a branch extending at an angle to said axis, a first nozzle secured to said member and elongated horizontally, a second nozzle disposed within said first nozzle and movable between an uppermost position in which it is retracted above said first nozzle and a lowermost position in which it extends below said rst nozzle, the branch of said elbow normally extending in a generally upward direction during use of said tool, and motion transmitting means for converting rotary motion of said elbow through a limited arc with respect to said member into vertical movement of said second nozzle relative to said first nozzle, said elbow being outside the limits of said arc when said branch extends in said upward direction.

-2. In a dual purpose suction cleaning tool, a suction conduit connection member, a suction conduit rotatably mounted in said member, a horizontal elongatedrst nozzle secured to said member, a second nozzle disposed within said first nozzle, an element mounted for lengt`nwise movement in said rst nozzle, motion .transmitting means between said element and said second nozzle A`including a pin and inclined surface for translating lengthwise movement of said element to vertical movement of said second nozzle, the latter being movable between a lowermost position in which it extends downwardly beyond said rst nozzle and an uppermost position in which it is retracted above said first nozzle, and means for converting rotary motion of said suction conduit into lengthwise motion of said element.

3. In a dual purpose suction cleaningtool, a suction conduit connector member, a suction conduit rotatably mounted in said member, a horizontal elongated tirst nozzle secured to said member, a second nozzle disposed within said iirst nozzle, an element mounted for lengthwise movement in said rst nozzle, motion transmitting means between said element and said second nozzle including a pin and inclined surface for translating lengthwise movement of said element to vertical movement of said second nozzle, the latter being movable between a lowermost position in which it extends downwardly beyond said rst nozzle and an uppermost position in which it is retracted above said first nozzle, teeth comprising a rack on said element, and tooth means spanning a limited portion of the periphery of said suction conduit, and cooperating with said teeth soV that rotation of said conduit through a limited arc causes lengthwise movement of said element.

4. In a dual purpose suction cleaning tool, a suction conduit connection member, a suction conduit rotatably mounted in said member, a horizontally elongated iirst nozzle secured to said member, arhorizontally elongated second nozzle within said trst nozzle, an element mounted for movement in said first nozzle, motion transmitting Ymeans between said element and said second nozzle including means for translating lengthwise movement of said element to vertical movement of said second nozzle with the latter movable between a lowermost position in which it extends downwardly beyond said rst nozzle and an uppermost retracted position above said iirst nozzle, and means for converting rotary motion of said suction conduit into lengthwise motion of said element.

5. In a dual purpose suction cleaning tool, a suction conduit connector member, a suction conduit ,rotatably mounted in said member, a horizontally elongated rst nozzle secured to said member, a horizontally elongated second nozzle within said irst nozzle, an element mounted for movement in said first nozzle, vmotion transmitting means between said element and said second nozzle including means for translating one movement of said element to vertical movement of saidsecond nozzle with the latter movable between a lowermost position in which itextends downwardly beyond said rst nozzle and an uppermost retracted position above said rst nozzle, teeth comprising a rack on said element, and tooth means spanning a limited portionof the periphery of said suction conduit and cooperating with said teeth so that rotation of said conduit through a limited arc will cause lengthwise movement of said element,

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,029,668 MCCardle Feb, 4, 1936 2,182,146 Edstrom Dec. 5, 1939 2,314,081 Dow et al. Mar. 16, 1943 2,613,388 Walker Oct. 1,4, 1952 2,656,560 Smith Oct. 277, 1953 2,658,229 Smellie Nov. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 77,554 ,Denmark May 17, 1954 185,125 Switzerland Sept. .16, 1936 213,420 Switzerland May l, 1941 

